House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 9 May 1659

Monday, May 9th, 1659.

Prayers.

Intelligence of Invasion.

MAJOR Salwey reports from the Committee Safety, That the said Committee, having endeavoured to inform themselves of the State of Affairs, in reference to the Peace of this Commonwealth, have received good Intelligence, that Charles Stuart designs speedy Invasion; having, for that Purpose, One thousand Three hundred Men, already on their March, Five hundred of which are come to Brigges; and that there are come lately over into England, from Flanders, very many of Charles Stuart his Party; and that several of them are Persons excepted from Pardon, especially Captain Titus and Colonel Massey; and that there are Endeavours to draw some of the Army of this Commonwealth to join with the said Charles Stuart against the Parliament: That the said Committee have caused a Search to be made the last Night: But Titus and Massey are slipt away: Yet some others, newly come over from Flaunders, are apprehended: A List of whose Names the Committee hope to give in To-morrow Morning, and thereupon moved, as the humble Advice of that Committee, That the Parliament would be pleased to add unto that Committee the Lord Lambert, Colonel Disbrowe, and Colonel Bury.

Committee of Safety.

Ordered, That the Lord Lambert, Colonel Disbrowe, Colonel Bury, and Mr. Scot, be added to the Committee of Safety, during the Continuance of the said Committee.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of Parliament that are of the Committee of Safety, to inform themselves of the Powers of the late Council of State, by Authority of Parliament; and to consider of a fit Number of Persons, of which the Council of State may hereafter consist; and to make Report thereof to the Parliament.

Secluded Members.

Ordered, That such Persons, heretofore Members of this Parliament, as have not sat in this Parliament since the Year 1648, and have not subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of the Engagement of this House, shall not sit in this House till further Order of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Cases of the Members of this Parliament, that sat not since the Year 1648, were formerly referred, do revise the Journals of Parliament; and thereby inform themselves of the Cases of the said Members; and that they do state Matter of Fact, and the several Votes and Orders of the Parliament, concerning such Members; and make Report thereof to the Parliament: And that LieutenantGeneral Ludlow be continued of the said Committee:

That the Case of the Lord Fairfax be referred to the said Committee, to be by them stated, and reported to the Parliament:

That the Case of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper be referred to the said Committee, to be by them stated, and reported to the Parliament.

Publick Officers.

The Question being propounded, That the Parliament doth declare, That all such as shall be in any Place of Trust or Power within this Commonwealth, be able for the Discharge of such Trust; and that they be Persons fearing God, and that have given Testimony of their Love to all the People of God, and of their Faithfulness to the Cause of this Commonwealth, according to the Declaration of Parliament of the Seventh of May 1659;

And the Question being put, That that Question be put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It passed with the Affirmative; That the Parliament doth declare, That all such as shall be in any Place of Trust or Power within this Commonwealth, be able for the Discharge of such Trust; and that they be Persons fearing God; and that have given Testimony of their Love to all the People of God; and of their Faithfulness to the Cause of this Commonwealth, according to the Declaration of Parliament of the Seventh of May 1659.

Ordered, That it be referred to such of the Committee of Safety, as are Members of Parliament, to consider of fit Persons to be settled in Civil and Military Employments, that may be qualified according to the Declaration now passed; and to report the Names of such Persons to the Parliament, for their Allowance and Approbation:

That the Vote of the Parliament, passed this Day, concerning the Not-Sitting of such Members as sat not since 1648, &c. be set up upon the Parliament-Door.

London Militia.

The House being informed, That divers Citizens of London were attending at the Door; who had something to offer to the Parliament; and desired to be called in;

They were, upon the Question, ordered to be called in: And, being come to the Bar, * * * in the Name of them all, declared, That they were Members of that great and famous City of London, whose Hearts and Hands had been always engaged, with the Parliament, in that good and just Quarrel against the Enemies of our Christian and Civil Liberties: And though, for a time, there hath been an Interruption and Clouding upon the Parliament's Authority and Freedom; yet, as the Parliament had been our Repairers, God had restored them: That this was the Lord's Doing, and was marvellous in their Eyes: That they did see it, and their Hearts rejoiced in it, and did bless God for it; and therefore, considering the Dangers that always occur . . such Vicissitudes and Resolutions as these are, and the Vigilancy and Activity of the old Enemy of our Peace and Liberty, they thought it their Duty to present these their Requests; intreating the Parliament to take such a Care for settling the Militia of the City in such a Way, as to their Wisdom should seem meet: And presented a Petition: Which, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of divers well-affected Citizens of the City of London."

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for settling the Militia of London:

That it be referred to the Committee for Safety, to consider of fit Persons to be of the said Militia; and to report their Names to the Parliament:

That it be referred to Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Garland, Colonel Thompson, Sir James Harrington, and Colonel Harvey, or any Three of them, to prepare a Bill for the Settling of the Militia of the City of London: As also a Bill for the settling of the Militia of Westminster, Southwark, Hamlets of the Tower, and Places within the late Lines of Communication; and report the same to the Parliament.

Resolved, That the Petitioners be called in: And that Mr. Speaker do give them the Thanks of the Parliament for their hearty Affection to the Parliament, and this Commonwealth: And that he acquaint them, That the Parliament have resolved to take the Particulars of their Petition into speedy Consideration.

The Petitioners being again called in, Mr. Speaker returned them this Answer:

"Gentlemen;"

"Your Petition hath been read to the House; and they have already agreed to take it under their Consideration, and that with very great Speed: And they have commanded me, for the good Expression of your Affections that are here, and of the Action itself, That I should give you very hearty Thanks; and so I do, in their Name."

The Petitioners withdrew.

Letter from Gen. Monck.

The Lord Fleetwood presented a Letter, sent to his Lordship from General Monck, dated May * *: Which was read; and immediately delivered back to his Lordship: The Effect whereof was, To give an Account of the quiet State of the Army in Scotland, and their Concurrence with the Army of England: And desire, that this Parliament might again sit.

Letter from Ireland.

Colonel John Jones reports, from the Committee of Safety, the Extract of a Letter from Ireland, dated May 4th instant: Which was read; and is as followeth;

"We were exceedingly startled at the Two Votes, which, we looked upon, were in Opposition to the honest Address of the Army: We are, through Mercy, in Peace and Quietness; and all the old Officers are fully resolved to hold and stand by and with the Army in England, having an high Affection to the good old Cause; and hoping, that it is now reviving; and those that are Back-Friends to it, think it their best Posture to be silent."

Great Seal.

Ordered, That a new Great Seal be with all Speed prepared, and brought into this House, for the present Use of the Commonwealth, according to the Form of the last Great Seal made by Authority of this Parliament: And that the last Great Seal be brought into this House, to be broken before the Parliament: And that the Care of providing the said new Great Seal, as also of Seals for all other Courts, be referred to Mr. Love.

Publick Revenue.

Ordered, That Colonel Thompson, Colonel Downes, Sir James Harrington, Lord Commissioner Whitlock, Colonel Sydenham, Mr. Holland, and Colonel White, or any Three of them, be a Committee, with full Power of Inspection into the Treasuries of this Commonwealth: And that they take Consideration of the whole State of the publick Revenue: And offer to the Parliament, Tomorrow Morning, what they conceive most expedient for the Bringing in and Issuing forth of the Customs, Excise, and other the Revenues of this Commonwealth, with least Charge, and most Speed; and how the said Revenue may be best improved: And the said Committee are to take care, that no Monies be issued forth without the Direction of the Parliament, or Order of the Committee of Safety: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And are to meet, in the Treasury-Chamber, To-morrow Morning, at Seven of the Clock, and so from Day to Day: And the especial Care hereof is referred to Colonel Downes.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety have Power to direct their Warrants to any Persons in whose Hands any of the Revenues of this Commonwealth are, for such Monies as the said Committee shall judge necessary for the present Service of the Commonwealth: And that such Persons do issue the same, according to such Warrants as they shall receive from the said Committee.

Courts of Law, &c.

Mr. Lechmere reports, A Bill concerning Proceedings in Courts of Law and Equity: Which was read the First time.

Resolved, That the present Debate upon the said Bill be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock.